I used the clingy type of Glad wrap from the grocery store. I remembered parafilm from high school and college science labs oh so many years ago, but really didn't know a source. The Glad version is pretty much the same thing, and yes, it works great, very easy to work with.

Here is a link that might be useful: This stuff works great, too

I used parafilm this year for the first time and by the looks of it, I had very good success for a beginner. I think i'm going to like budding. I chip budded everything (plums on peaches, apicot on apricot, apple on apple. Now I just need to make sure i have everything labeled correctly.

Apparently, grafting can be made with almost any securing device; however, I have to agree that the parafilm deserves a tip of the hat.

I have used parafilm for many years on paw paw's,asian persimmon, roses and a few others. I use parafilm as the base and finish with clear grafting film. Sometimes i will add a rubber band too. My grafting success started in 2003 when i follow instruction from an article writtened by Lee Reich in Horticulture April,2003. An article about bark grafting,and i am still using it with a couple of changes. Most of the time using just parafilm will brake-down too soon for grafting that takes too long to heal and loose its adheasion.

Dennis,

I've used regular plastic wrap to wrap the grafts but the problem I always had was it held too much moisture and made the grafts soggy. The beauty of this parafilm is that it seemed to hold just the right amount of moisture. Maybe the Glad Press'n Seal performs the same as parafilm, I don't know.

Persimmon Bob,

Like you, I don't use parafilm to secure the grafts, rather just to wrap the grafts. You're right, grafts secured only with parafilm, would probably fail. The parafilm would break down before they could callus.

I suppose anything can be used to secure the grafts. My preference to secure grafts is rubber electrical tape. I've used vinyl electrical tape and masking tape to secure grafts, but the rubber tape works the best for me. It's easy to install (it sticks to itself better than rubber bands), easy to remove (doesn't damage the bark on removal - like vinyl tape) and keeps good pressure on the on the graft union.

I covered all my grafts with aluminum foil after I put on the parafilm.

Olpea,
The folks who taught me to graft did it with parafilm - and I've always used it. Clean, non-messy, effective at sealing in moisture, but allowing 'breathing' and buds push right through it.
Most stuff - whether it's apples/pears or pecans walnuts - gets an initial wrap of parafilm - covering the graft union and the entire scion - with an overwrap with rubber band, though sometimes on rapidly-callusing stuff, like pears, I'll sometimes just wrap with masking tape.

I use just parafilm and have never had problems with failure due to breaking. But I put a lot of rounds on - I buy it in 6-roll packs. It does eventually split but thats after the grafts have taken off.

Scott

The method I've used for years: Tape graft as tight as possible with ordinary making tape; wrap graft spirally up and down again and tie using sturdy bread bags cut into strips; (is this like parafilm?); encase graft and wrapping in plastic food storage bags (the kind you tie) or sandwich bags (for short grafts), making sure to tie the enclosing bag around the branch BELOW the graft. This little greenhouse seems to help. I leave graft in this plastic greenhouse until leaves are out and weather has settled. I slit the bag and let graft acclimate gradually and finally remove bag about June or so. I have had NO success with peaches using this method. Will try next year but wait for warmer weather.

This year I had 100% success with apple grafts. HOWEVER, I think the fact that we had ample rain in the days following grafting led to the success this year.

A friend, known to some here, who for many years was the proprietor of one of the premiere apple/pear nurseries here in the lower Midwest, used only masking tape to wrap apple and pear grafts. They callus so readily and rapidly that you don't need much to get successful grafts.
I often quip that you can throw scions at a pear rootstock and get 80% 'takes'.

I'm far from expert and like to give buds and grafts every chance. I bind well with budding rubber bands (which also will help pull together my inexpert whip-and-tongue grafts) and then cover buds with parafilm to hold in moisture and sometimes even wrap graft scions for same.

The one slight problem is that the parafilm tends to protect the rubber bands so that they may need cutting off the next summer rather than "rotting" off.

I grafted for years with plain old masking tape and dipped the tree upside down into a tall can of melted parafin wax. We still use this method for benchgrafts and I use parafilm for making 4n1 trees. Both give us a 90%+ success ratio. Parafilm is fast and easy - no real downside. I liked the pear scion comment - pears will graft in a mild breeze!